Chapter 29
Daemon was finishing the last of the paperwork on his desk and preparing to join the warriors for training when a serving maid knocked on the door of his study. “Me laird, there’s folk here tae see ye. Including Laird MacDougall.”
“Laird MacDougall?” Daemon shot from his chair to his feet as unease filled him. Kaelin wasn’t due to return for at least one more day, more likely two.
The maid nodded. “Aye me laird, and Laird MacLean.”
He hadn’t heard any report of Darren MacLean leaving his home, much less intending to visit him. Daemon nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
He hurried down to find Darren MacLean, along with his brother Marcus, Marcus’s wife Erin, Kaelin, Ryan and Cai, all sitting in one of the small reception rooms. All of them looked grim-faced. “What happened?”
“We stopped for the night at an inn. Lyla went out for a breath o’ fresh air. When she didnae come back quickly, I went tae see what was keeping her. There was nay sign o’ Lyla, but I found traces o’ a disturbance, as if there was some sort o’ altercation in the lane between the inn and the stables.” Cai told him.
“Aye.” Ryan’s usually cheerful expression was tight. “We were in Campbell territory…”
“Then ye think she’s been taken?”
“Aye.” Kaelin’s face seemed to have aged ten years overnight. “I’m thinking the blackguards were following us, waiting fer a chance. By nae heading straight home, and by stopping along the way, we gave them the perfect opportunity tae snatch me daughter.”
Darren spoke up. “Ryan and Cai have been telling us o’ the troubles ye’ve faced these past days. I didnae realize that Ranald would go tae such lengths, or I wouldnae have involved ye.”
“Dinnae speak like that.” Kaelin rose from his seat. “Yer kith and kin tae us, Darren MacLean, and I wouldnae leave ye standing alone in yer time o’ trouble. Nae when I ken the difficulties this clan has caused ye afore now.”
“Aye. Laird MacDougall is right. I wouldnae feel easy in me mind if I didnae honor me pledge as yer ally.” Daemon agreed. “Though I am surprised tae see ye here, and nae with yer clan.”
Darren grimaced. “I ken I should be home. But Marcus and Erin wanted tae return tae MacDougall lands, so Marcus could take up his new responsibilities as heir. I was concerned that an attempt might be made tae take one or both o’ them hostage tae be used against me, so I decided tae travel with them. Had I kent the blackguards already had another target…”
“There’s nae sense in worrying about it now.” Kaelin responded. “’Tis done, and all o’ us share some o’ the fault in allowing Lyla tae be taken. The question is what we’ll be doing now. I’m assuming we all agree that ‘tis Clan Ranald who likely have me daughter?”
“Aye.” There was a chorus of agreement, and Daemon added his voice to it.
“Then we need a plan fer getting her back, as soon as possible.” Kaelin’s expression was grim. “There’s nae telling what an unbalanced man like Donall Ranald might dae in this situation, especially if he’s willing tae go tae such lengths.”
Daemon was in full agreement. Donall Ranald knew that he was challenging three clans with his actions. Beyond that, Darren’s youngest brother Keegan was married to the sister of Laird Stewart, making another powerful ally. If Keegan asked his brother-by-marriage for aid, the force they could bring to bear would be enough to overwhelm Clan Ranald.
Daemon knew the only reason that Darren hadn’t called for that aid was because he didn’t want to trouble his youngest sibling. Besides, unlike the rest of them, Clan Stewart had no territory on the Firth of Lorne, and would have to travel much farther to offer any assistance.
Darren stepped forward; his expression tight. “I think I ken most o’ the reasons fer Donall Ranald’s actions, but I dinnae think this will be settled in any fashion save a face tae face confrontation. That’s why I suggest we cross the firth on the boat I used tae come here, and ride with all haste tae Clan Ranald.”
“Dae we wish tae stop and gather the soldiers?” Marcus spoke up.
“Nae. If I’m right, a show o’ force will make matters worse, whereas a small party might be able tae find a solution. If Donall Ranald is so crazed as tae resort tae kidnapping, then an army on his doorstep might make him use Lyla as a hostage, or kill her tae prevent us from saving her.”
Daemon felt his heart lurch and his stomach clench at the idea of Lyla being murdered. It was an effort to keep his temper and his emotions in check. He wanted badly to storm from the room and race to Ranald Keep on his own, or to set the hounds loose to try and intercept Lyla’s abductors.
A hand on his arm brought his attention to Kaelin. The older laird looked worried, but resolute. “We’ll get her back, Daemon. Dinnae let yer fears run away with ye.”
“I cannae lose her.” He didn’t mean to say the words, but they escaped from him before he could think to stop them. Daemon swallowed hard, knowing those words were truth. Losing Rowan had turned him into a bitter hermit, but losing Lyla might just break him entirely. “I cannae… if I lose her, I’m like tae run mad, or die o’ grief.”
“I ken, lad.” Kaelin squeezed his arm.
Erin MacDougall frowned. “What’s all this then? I didnae ken ye and Lyla had much tae dae with one another. Last I kent, ye were barely on civil terms, let alone more.”
Daemon felt his face heat as he realized the blunder he’d committed. He might have spoken to Kaelin about courting his daughter, but he’d neglected to tell Lyla’s elder sister, and it appeared that Lyla hadn’t informed Erin either.
He met Erin’s eyes, hoping she’d understand. “While yer sister was staying here, we got tae ken more o’ one another. And we became fond o’ each other. More than that…” He took a deep breath. Erin was a true warrior, and one of the few he knew that could give him difficulty in a fight if she chose. “The truth is, I love yer sister Lyla. I ken ‘tis awkward, being that I was married tae Rowan, but it doesnae change anything. I love Lyla, and afore she was taken, I was seeking permission from yer faither tae court her formally, with a betrothal and a wedding tae follow after the dispute with Clan Ranald was ended.”
He braced himself for accusations, or threats. To his surprise, Erin looked to her father. “I dae hope ye gave him yer blessing, Faither. Ye ken Daemon’s a good man, after all, and will able tae look after her.”
“I didnae refuse him, if that’s what ye mean. Though I wasnae so calm as ye are.” Kaelin grumbled the words, frowning at his elder daughter.
Erin blushed. “I learned with Marcus that one can find love in unexpected places, and there’s nae use in denying it, even if the person ye come tae love is the last person ye expected tae give yer heart tae.”
Daemon felt a rush of gratitude for her support. “’Tis true. I didnae intend tae fall in love with yer sister. It happened afore I kent what was happening.”
“I ken the feeling.” Erin’s small smile faded. “That just makes it all the more important that we get me sister back and resolve the matter with Clan Ranald as soon as possible.”
“Aye.” Daemon called a servant to bring some food and drink, then turned back to his guests. “Please, rest and take some refreshment. As soon as I’ve packed tae travel, we’ll be on our way.”
Stay strong, Lyla. I’ll be there tae rescue ye as soon as I can.
* * *
Lyla twisted against the ropes, but there was no give in them. Nor was there a chance to do more than tug lightly at her bindings. There was always a guard nearby, and when they were riding, she rode double with one of her captors. There was little opportunity for any escape attempt.
She’d woken from unconsciousness with an aching head and bound arms, held on the back of a horse like a sack of grain. Though she’d been fed and watered, none of the men escorting her had said anything to her beyond brief orders like ‘get up’, ‘we’re stopping’, or ‘here, take this’.
Still, she had managed to gather a few little bits of information. The tartans the men wore told her that her abductors were from Clan Ranald. They’d clearly kidnapped her on the orders of their laird, to use as a hostage against the allies of Clan MacLean.
They were traveling without stopping, save for a few rest breaks, in order to stay ahead of any pursuers. From what she’d heard the men say, they planned to get to Clan Ranald within a day, a day and a half at the most. The group was planning to trust to speed to keep them from being caught, rather than trusting to armed might.
From the few words exchanged by the men, she gathered that Donall Ranald had an uncertain temper, and had sworn vengeance in the matter of his father’s death. What exactly he intended was unclear, but her captors were clearly under orders to keep her healthy and relatively unharmed.
She would have liked to put her self-defense techniques into practice, but she’d had no chance to try escaping or fighting back. Still, she’d been kidnapped before. She knew if she was patient, she’d have a chance to escape.
She made another subtle effort to find a weakness in her bindings, then settled down and did her best to look annoyed, bored, and a little terrified. If she couldn’t escape on her own, she needed to convince her captors she was as harmless and helpless as possible. If they underestimated her, then perhaps an opportunity would present itself sooner rather than later.
If all else failed, she knew Daemon and her father would come to retrieve her. Likely, they’d already guessed what had happened to her, and who had taken her. She just needed to stay calm and attentive, ready to act when they arrived, or another opportunity to free herself became apparent.
Nae matter what happens, I will survive tae return home tae ye, Daemon.